Police have dismantled an illegal alcohol production facility in Juja, Kiambu County, recovering more than 1,000 litres of kangara and hundreds of kilogrammes of raw materials used to manufacture the poisonous brew.
The operation, conducted along the Ndarugo River in Mwireri area of Kalimoni Ward, also resulted in the seizure of approximately 800 kilogrammes of molasses and an assortment of equipment suspected to have been used in the production of illicit alcohol.
The raid followed alarming reports of deaths and serious health complications among young people who had allegedly consumed the locally manufactured drink, prompting security agencies and community leaders to move against the illegal enterprise.
A multi agency team comprising police officers, chiefs and Nyumba Kumi elders recovered five boiling drums, 16 fermentation bags, 16 packets of yeast, six packets of urea, five coolant radiators, assorted pipes and 10 jerricans.
Speaking after the operation, Kiambu County Commissioner George Matundura said the government would intensify its campaign against illicit alcohol, second generation alcoholic drinks and narcotic substances.
He warned that individuals engaged in the illegal trade would not be allowed to continue endangering public health, particularly the lives of young people.
Matundura said security agencies would extend the operation along the entire Ndarugo River corridor to identify other clandestine brewing establishments and bring their operators to justice.
He described the seizure as part of a broader government effort to dismantle illegal alcohol networks, adding that the crackdown would continue until the trade was eliminated.
Kiambu County Police Commander Kennedy Osando said preliminary findings indicated that the manufacturers were using industrial yeast, urea, molasses and other substances in preparing the illicit drink.
He cautioned that such ingredients could expose consumers to severe health complications and potentially fatal poisoning, calling on residents to shun the products and provide security agencies with information about those behind their manufacture and distribution.
Osando pledged sustained enforcement operations, warning that anyone found producing, transporting or selling the illegal drinks would face arrest and prosecution.
He also challenged local administrators and community policing structures to strengthen surveillance and report suspicious activities, particularly in areas where illegal alcohol production had taken root.
The police commander commended Nyumba Kumi elders, chiefs and officers involved in the raid, saying cooperation between security agencies and residents remained critical in confronting the illicit alcohol trade.
The operation comes against the backdrop of growing national concern over deaths and illnesses associated with toxic alcoholic drinks, with authorities facing mounting pressure to dismantle illegal production networks and protect vulnerable communities.
Security agencies are now expected to widen surveillance along the river corridor as the government steps up efforts to prevent further loss of lives.
